According to The Sun, Crystal Palace are closing in on a loan deal for Chelsea striker Michy Batshuayi, although the Blues won't give the green light for a deal until they've signed a forward themselves.

What's the word, then?

Well, Crystal Palace are reportedly keen to be reunited with the Belgian, and Roy Hodgson is happy to wait for the former Marseille man after struggling to land his first-choice Odsonne Edouard, who could now be looked at in the summer instead.

Batshuayi spent the second half of last season on loan at Selhurst Park, scoring five Premier League goals in nine starts while also notching in the FA Cup quarter-final against Watford.

However, the Eagles look to have a rival for the 26-year-old's signature in Aston Villa, who were looking for a new striker even before Wesley suffered a season-ending knee injury.

Palace shouldn't worry because of their good relationship with Chelsea

This isn't the first time that the south Londoners have had competition for Batshuayi.

Before a loan deal was completed last January, Palace faced competition from Tottenham, West Ham and Everton for the Belgian's signature.

The Toffees wanted a permanent deal, while Spurs and West Ham chased a loan, but Chelsea charged the north Londoners a huge £8m for a loan deal while offering Batshuayi to the Hammers for £4m - interestingly, the Blues then allowed the striker to join Palace for closer to £1m.

Significantly, Hodgson claimed that was because of the Eagles' good relationship with Chelsea following Ruben Loftus-Cheek's successful loan spell at Selhurst Park, which suggests that - despite Villa's enquiry - the south Londoners still remain in pole position.

"I can’t say I’m surprised about it, I’m very pleased about it. A lot of it has to do with the relationship with Chelsea and Crystal Palace, Chelsea people and our chairman, Steve Parish"

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Also, Chelsea remain interested in a deal for Wilfried Zaha with The Times reporting that Frank Lampard may try and reach an agreement with Palace by offering them one of his strikers, which only adds to the feeling that Hodgson's side remain in a good position in the race for Batshuayi.

In other news, these Crystal Palace fans have reacted to transfer interest in a player who has only recently arrived at Selhurst Park...